10 Wrestlers Who Succeeded Against The Odds
2. CM Punk
CM Punk has become a divisive figure since leaving WWE and putting Triple H, Vince McMahon, and the company doctors on-blast in the aftermath, but it’s impossible to discredit the impact he had on the wrestling business.
Punk’s initial plight was similar to Daniel Bryan’s. Top brass branded him too small and unathletic to be the company’s number one star, but his now-legendary “pipebomb” promo turned the wrestling industry on its head. The speech has become iconic, and in blurring the lines between real and “fake”, Punk pulled the curtain back on WWE’s business practices, then announced that his contract was due to expire at Money in the Bank 2011.
If Punk won the title, he was leaving with it. That’s exactly what he did, and Punk’s “Voice of the Voiceless” title saw him stand as an avatar of rebellion and discontent in WWE’s increasingly stale and corporatised world. An incredible 434-day title run followed, and while he wasn’t always treated as such, Punk was the biggest wrestling star on the planet.
WWE management were never particularly high on Punk, particularly Vince McMahon, who infamously sent Punk his release papers on his wedding day. Despite this level of distrust, it’s remarkable that Punk was able to succeed at such a level. He did it his way, and nobody can take that away from him.